Reisner Named Special Teams Player of the Week

Posted:
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 10:46 AM EST

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois sophomore kicker David Reisner was named co-Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after helping the Illini to a last-second win over Penn State on Saturday. It is the fourth weekly honor of the 2014 season for Illinois players after Wes Lunt was named co-Offensive Player of the Week and Mike Dudek Freshman of the Week on Sept. 8, and Justin DuVernois took home Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 27. It marks Reisner's first career weekly honor from the Big Ten.

Reisner nailed a game-winning 36-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining go give the Illini a 16-14 win over Penn State on Saturday, keeping Illinois' bowl hopes alive heading into the final week of the season. Reisner's late kick marked the first time since 2008 that the Illini won a game with a field goal in the last two minutes (Matt Eller, 46 yards vs. Iowa, 27-24, Nov. 1, 2008).

Reisner, a native of Barlett, Ill., and a transfer from Navy, was 3-of-4 on field goals against the Nittany Lions and finished with a career-high 10 points in the win. He had made only 1-of-3 field goals on the season before entering the game, but hit from 28 yards in the third quarter, 25 yards in the fourth and then 36 yards to win the game. His only miss was a 50-yard attempt in swirling winds, but he came back on the next drive to hit the go-ahead kick. Reisner's three field goals marked the first time since 2011 that an Illini kicker had three or more field goals in a game (Derek Dimke, 3 vs. Western Michigan, 9/24/2011).

The Fighting Illini have one regular season game remaining in 2014, this Saturday at Northwestern. Illinois needs a win against the Wildcats to secure bowl eligibility. Tickets for the rivalry game are available here.